First start already at the Farmers, Vijay Singh still eager to compete, Charley Hull to debut on YouTube soon. The Back Nine.
As expected, Brooks Koepka has opted out of the 2026 LIV Golf season starting February 7 in Riyadh; the five-time major champion will stay connected to the competing circuit but needs more family time. This was reportedly amicably agreed upon, according to LIV CEO Scott McNeil. Koepka is a competitive athlete who thrives on high-level competition, which he found limited in LIV. In 2022, he mainly joined LIV anticipating an end to his career due to injuries and to secure a substantial retirement fund. Therefore, his decision to skip the final contract year is unsurprising though questions remain. Did he have to buy out his contract or return part of his guaranteed salary? Does he remain owner of his LIV team Smash GC, which recently appointed Talor Gooch as captain?
Speculation is rampant over which tour Koepka will next appear on. He is eligible immediately for the DP World Tour, perhaps with a penalty, or the PGA Tour, where he faces a one-year suspension following his last LIV event, after lifetime bans imposed by former commissioner Jay Monahan were softened. Why be vindictive when every LIV returnee helps the dominant PGA Tour? This has partly been answered: per ESPN journalist Mark Schlabach, Koepka formally applied last Friday to reactivate his PGA Tour membership which had not been renewed after 2022.